It gave her, for the moment, all that she had been dying for want of for many weeks--weeks long as years.

She could not help it--she threw her arms round Alec Forbes's neck, laid her wet cheek against his, and sobbed as if her heart would break.

She did not care for the Bruces, or the rats, or even the schoolmaster now.

Alec clasped her tighter, and vowed in his heart that if ever that brute Malison lifted the tag to her, he would fly at his throat.

He would have carried her all the way home, for she was no great weight; but as soon as they were out of the house Annie begged him to set her down so earnestly, that he at once complied, and, bidding her good night, ran home barefoot through the flooded roads.
The Bruces had gone on with the two umbrellas, one of which, more to her discomfort than protection, Annie had shared in coming to the school; so that she was very wet before she got home.